How Tantowel Works

TanTowel is an incredibly simple, quick, and effective wet-wipe towlette. TanTowel contains the active ingredient Dihydroxyacetone (DHA). When you wipe the towelette over your skin, the DHA works with the amino acids and proteins in the superficial layer of your skin to create a natural looking tan.

After application, it takes about 2-3 hours for your tan to appear. Depending on your skin color and chemical levels in your skin, your may need repeat the application once or twice to achieve the tan you desire. You can reapply right afterwards or wait until the next day. Your tan will last 5-7 days. When you notice fading, reapply.

Each box of TanTowel product is designed to last about 60 days.

Directions

1. For an even application, wipe the wet-wipe towelette over your face and body, unfolding as you go. Continue to rotate the towelette as it dries. The formula dries in seconds.
2. Immediately wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Tips

• It is best to apply TanTowel just after bathing.
• Go lightly on areas where color can develop darker, such as your upper lip, hairline, knees, ankles, and elbows.
• When TanTowel isn't moist, you are not getting tan�replace it with a new one.

Facts About Skin Cancer

The skin is made up of two main layers, the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis is the top layer of skin. It includes three types of cells: squamous cells, which are flat, scaly cells found on the outer layer; basal cells, which are round cells, and melanocytes, the cells that give skin its color. The dermis is the inner layer of skin and contains blood vessels, nerves, sweat glands, and hair follicles.

There are an estimated 800,000 cases of skin cancer a year. The three types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. These cancers most commonly affect people who have a light complexion and an inability to tan or are immune suppressed because of certain medications or diseases. Exposure to the sun is the major environmental risk factor.

Even though non-melanoma skin cancers -- basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas -- are very common, they have among the highest cure rates of all cancers. The most serious form of skin cancer is melanoma, which will be diagnosed in about 38,000 people this year. In the last two decades, the incidence rate of melanoma has increased about 4 percent every year. However, because melanoma is usually caught at an early stage, it has an 85 percent overall survival rate.

The key to successful treatment of skin cancer is early detection. Dermatologists recommend that adults, especially those at high risk, have a complete skin examination at regular intervals. During the exam, a doctor will inspect the skin from head to toe, including areas not exposed to the sun. The doctor will evaluate the moles, or nevi, recording their location, size, and color. Adults should also become familiar with the appearance of their own skin and practice skin self-examination once a month. Any changes in the appearance of a mole should be brought to a doctor's attention. Researchers have shown that people who conduct a thorough skin self-exam may reduce their risk of dying from melanoma by 63 percent.

When examining your skin, keep in mind the ABCD warning signs of melanoma:

1. asymmetry -- one half of the mole does not match the other
2. border -- edges of the mole are ragged, notched, or blurred
3. color -- color of mole is not uniform
4. diameter -- the mole is larger than a pencil eraser (greater than 6 millimeters)

To help prevent skin cancer, dermatologists recommend that everyone wear protective clothing and avoid excessive sun exposure, particularly between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Even in the winter, safe sun practices should be followed. Children, in particular, should be protected from excessive sun exposure and they should be taught safe sun habits at an early age.

Most early skin cancers can be removed in a simple outpatient surgical procedure. Some non-melanoma skin cancers might be treated with radiotherapy, electrodesiccation (destroying the tissue with heat), or cryosurgery (destroying the tissue by freezing it). Patient are advised to return for follow-up visits to check on their skin, since those who have 8 or more cancers have almost a 100 percent likelihood of developing a new lesion each year. Other than follow-up skin examinations, once the lesion has been removed, no further treatment is usually necessary.

Cancer information courtesy of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.